Share your favorite place so that if any of us are far away from home, we can satisfy our yearnings for a good sandwich in any part of the country. Difference of opinions will arise, but remember that we are all bound by one common thread- the search and appreciation of a good banh mi sandwich. So please, house rules are to comment only your favorite. Lets just discuss the positives and where the recommended eateries are. Do not post any negative comments about any banh mi place, because we would rather spend our precious time eating than reading any negative, non-constructive comments. No haters, only banh mi lovers.
Visit the comments for places that have been shared already.
Comment to share your opinions on the best places and any that we’ve missed:
The one…the only…Nicky’s Vietnamese Sandwiches!
150 E 2nd St
New York, NY 10009
Phone: (212) 388-1088
A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
Nicky’s
I agree with the person above – Nicky’s is hands down the best, especially for a good banh mi chay. I don’t think anyone else in the city even makes one!
Hanco’s
If you’re in Brooklyn, Hanco’s is really the best. It’s on Bergen at Smith street (F or G train to Bergen) and besides the sandwiches, the vermicelli salad is also totally great, even if you forgo their super flavorful pork for the creamy, peanut crusted seared tofu! They have authentic Vietnamese coffee and quality boba drinks too.
BX Hits the Spot
I found one of my favorite sandwiches at a little Vietnamese shop on the northern fringes of Brooklyn’s Asian community in Sunset Park. Ba Xuyên offers nearly a dozen bánh mì selections, roughly half of which contain pork in some form (e.g., shredded, barbequed, even crushed into meatballs). Additional choices include grilled chicken, turkey breast, cá tuna, and, possibly my favorite, cá mòi (sardine). Regardless of the sandwich, I always order it spicy. (Ba Xuyên’s red sauce not only adds a moderate amount of heat, but also provides a rich, savory flavor.) While most sandwiches cost $3.50, a few are higher, topping out at $4.25 for the tuna, another favorite.
For $2.50, you could try one of Ba Xuyên’s unusual fruit shakes. Condensed milk, light cream, fruit, and ice are blended together to produce a refreshing drink that isn’t particularly sweet. Flavors include jackfruit, litchi, taro, papaya, and strawberry. Perhaps the most interesting, however is the durian. Owing to its profoundly rank odor, the so-called king of fruit must be sold frozen in the United States and is not permitted aboard many airlines. BX’s shake produced therefrom, however, is not nearly so malodorous and is definitely worth a try. I’d describe the flavor as a combination of egg salad and papaya.
As an alternative to a shake, you could try one of the popular “pearl cold drinks,” better known as bubble tea. As with their shakes, BX’s bubble teas are not sweet. Their creaminess provides a nice counterbalance to the spice of the sandwiches, and the absence of sugar ensures that no cloying aftertaste comes between one’s palate and the enjoyment of the bánh mì.
Please bear in mind that BX closes at 6:30 P.M. Although dining is limited to four tables, I’ve always found a seat. On a pleasant day, however, you may opt to enhance your dining pleasure al fresco and enjoy spectacular views afforded by the park for which the neighborhood is named. The entrance to Sunset Park is on Seventh Avenue, one block west.
Ba Xuyên
4222 Eighth Avenue (near 43rd St), Sunset Park, Brooklyn
(718) 633-6601
By train: D,M to 9th Avenue
By bus: B70, B35
Please click the link below for the full post:
http://www.comestiblog.com/weblog/2008/05/bx-hits-the-spo.html
Tan Thanh
5818 7th Ave
Brooklyn,NY 11220
(@ 60th street)
718.439.1690
If you’re around Sunset Park, it’s a good find. Arguably, not as good as Hanco’s, but certainly a contender.
Silent H
Silent H in Williamsburg serves delicious Banh Mi at lunch in a great setting. A welcome addition to Brooklyn!
Silent H
79 Berry St. Brooklyn
718-218-7063
New An Choi
Newly opened An Choi on Orchard/Grand was a nice surprise. They have had a soft opening and still in their less than a month stage. I went for lunch to try their Grilled Pork Banh Mi served with fried Shrimp Chips $5.50, Vietnamese Iced coffee and a starter of fried rolls. The pork is grilled to perfection, marinated with all the traditional Asian flavors, excellent bread and an authentic Banh Mi. My friend tried the special, it was ok. I like this spot because its run by foodies and is a place you can actually sit to enjoy. Try it! I’ve also been to Saigon Bakery and Paris Bakery for a Banh Mi as well, next stop Nicky’s and Baogette!
Paris Sandwiches
113 Mott St, New York 10013
(Btwn Hester & Canal St)
Phone: (212) 226-7221
Fax:(212) 226-7225
New as of August ’09 – little tiny shop on Bedford b/w 7th and 8th in Williamsburg called, appropriately, Banh Mi. They offer 6 or so different kinds for $5. Lemongrass Chicken was delicious – nice crusty roll. Seriously cheap for this area and quite delicious!
Great Place in the West Village in Manhattan called Baoguette-Phosure. Great banh-mi and pho. there are two other locations in the East Village and and Murray Hill.
EAST VILLAGE – 212-380-1487
37 Saint Marks Place @ 2nd/3rd Ave
Hours: 11-12am (Sun-Thu) 11-2am (Fri-Sat)
WEST VILLAGE – 212-929-0877
120 Christopher St. @ Christopher/Bedford St.
Hours: 11-11am (Mon-Sun)
MURRAY HILL – 212-532-1133
61 Lexington @ 25th/26th Street
Hours: 11-8pm (Mon-Sat) 12-5pm (Sun)
Baoguette Cafe- 212-380-1487
37 St. Marks Place (between 2nd and 3rd Ave)
Wonderful hole in the wall place in East Village. Sitting for about 10 people.Have not tried the Pho or b’un also available
Closed Mondays. Open till 12 midnight Sun -Wed and till 2:00 am Thu-Sat
Most sandwiches are $5.75-$7.50
I’m a fan of Baoguette myself but my question is: is there anywhere up town?
Seconding Bagouette Cafe- I just came back from my first Banh mi ever and here I am looking them up on the internet!! 37 St marks. Yum!
This would be a great listing:
Mangez Avec Moi’s Banh Mi 71-73 West Broadway 212.385.0251/0008 M-F 11am-7:30pm
Also, NY Magazine rated these:
http://nymag.com/restaurants/features/55839/
I have searched high and low for an uptown manhattan Bahn MI. there is nothing!
I’m hungry and tired of trekking downtown every time i need a fix!! please someone open a shop or point me in the right direction.
Banh Mi Zon is named the Best Banh Mi in Manhattan from Serious Eats
http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2011/02/the-best-banh-mi-in-nyc-new-york-city-manhattan-vietnamese-sandwich.html
please list Banh Mi Zon on your site, thanks
Banh Mi Zon
443 E.6th St
New York, NY10009
646 524 6384
Only location i know of in upstate New York, Binghamton to be exact. Walked into the sandwich shoppe and was very surprised to see Banh Mi on the menu. Amazzingly good, possibly the sweet chili sauce? But by far one of the best i have had anywhere,,,,
Don’t think they have a website but you can view there menu on facebook, Cafe West 46 located on Binghamton’s Westside 46 Seminary Ave. Binghamton, NY 13901. A little hard to find located in a residential neighborhood but one GREAT Banh Mi,,,
Had my first Bahn mi with my boyfriend a few months ago from Home, located on 5th ave in Brooklyn. He warned me before we walked in saying : “you’re about to have the best sandwich of your life” …and he was absolutelly right! it was phenomenal!!!And oh my God, tottally addicting! Granted i havent tried other places, so i can’t say they rule the neighborhood, but their classic sandwich with roasted ground pork, is TO LIVE FOR!!! I always ask for mild but even so it has a kick to it, so i assume the spicy can’t be for the light hearted! 😛
I live far away, and around here there isnt any vietnamese deli/shop, so i find myself literally day dreaming of bahn mi sometimes..no joke..lol.. So if you’re ever in the area they are definitely worth checking out…
Home
(718) 369-2984
349 5th ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215
ah, and also they have a website for ordering online, plus they deliver 🙂
http://homebrooklyntogo.com/home.html
Enjoy!
Tried about 10 places NYC ; most were good . One I’ll try again since they had just opened.
Best : Co Ba 110 9th Ave Manhattan had vegaterian Banh Mi $ 8.50 table service restaurant.
Cheapest : Pho Bac 82-78 Bdway Elmhurst NY had Chicken $ 3.50 plus free parking !
Lotus in Park Slope, Brooklyn is the absolute best Banh Mi I’ve had! Great Lychee Jelly and Iced Coffee as well. This place is what I miss most about living in Brooklyn. I order from Boi Noodles or Mooncake now as I live in Hell’s Kitchen but they just do not compare to Lotus!
Omg this new place called Celebritea Cafe in Downtown Brooklyn/Fort Greene (near Junior’s Cheesecake, LIU, and Brooklyn Tech) has an AMAZINGGGGGGGGGGGGG banh mi =P***.
My friend and I stumble upon this place walking out of her building (80 Dekalb Ave., which is the location of the store) to go to Fort Greene Park. We stop in to get some coffee and noticed on the menu there was banh mi. We had to try it and don’t regret it at all. The meat is so tender and juicy because its made into a pattie form. It was very balanced and very enjoyable. I can’t wait to visit my friend again!
There are plenty of banh mi sandwich shops in the city and most I’ve tried are very good. Also, there’s a new sandwich shop that sells banh mi sandwiches in the Upper West Side near Columbia University for those who do not want to make the trek downtown. I had their signature QQ banh mi sandwich and it was very good! http://www.yelp.com/biz/quick-and-quality-sandwich-manhattan
Lans on E. 6thst is the best!!!!!!
Sao Mai. New. East Village..banh mi chay! TDF!!
Num Pang has delicious variations on the traditional sandwich, as well as options for vegetarians and those who prefer this sandwich sans pork products. Two Manhattan locations. SO. GOOD. Check it out at: http://www.numpangnyc.com
140 E. 41st Street
(between Lexington & 3rd Ave)
and
21 E. 12th Street
(between 5th and University)
I had banh bi dac biet the other day from Saigon Shack on MacDougal in the village and it’s been the best that I’ve had in NYC, even in the US. 🙂 decent pho too!
RUN to V-NAM CAFE on 1st Avenue between 1st and 2nd Streets (I believe it’s 20 First Ave, Manhattan), say hey to Chef Juan and order the beef sandwich. OH. MY. GOOD. GOD! Tell him “Times Square” sent you.
The bistro in Sea Cliff right on the north shore of long island near Glen Cove. I get one almost everyday before work. Leaves just the right amount of heat in your mouth after each bite. And the bread has the perfect crispness.
Elmhurst Queens: Joju. 8325 Broadway. Wonderful, amazing, perfect. I can’t get enough. http://www.jojuny.com/ and http://www.yelp.com/biz/joju-elmhurst.
Hudson Valley residents love Home Spun Foods on Main Street in Beacon, NY
Tuesday and Thursday are Bahn Mi Special Days!!
Banhmigos on Lincoln Place between 7th and 8th Avenue in Park Slope. It’s cheaper than Hanco’s, which is one of the pricier banh mi joints in the area, and they offer many other options, like pho, vermicelli salad, spring rolls, and about 15 flavors of bubble tea. I’m a big, big fan of the Tofu sandwich served spicy. The bite of jalapeno, the way the homemade mayo and hotsauce mix together to become a creamy, spicy mess, the slight sweetness of the tofu mirrored in the salty-sweet tang of the pickled vegetables, it all comes together on that whole-wheat baguette and just makes sweet music to my tongue.
Hi I have a question hopefully somebody can answer for me. I know banh mi in shops NY don’t make their own breads, so my question is, does anyone know who supplies these breads to the various banh mi shops? Thanks any help would be greatly appreciated!